Texas correctional officers guard one of the largest state inmate populations in the country but are plagued by a shortage of people willing to do the job.

It’s a thankless but critical function. The pay is low, the hours are long, the conditions are grueling and the danger is constant.

“If they say that Texas schoolteachers are underpaid, correctional officers don’t stand a chance,” said Keith Price, retired warden of the William P. Clements Unit in Amarillo. “Prisons and prisoners are out of sight and out of mind. Correctional officers get that same kind of treatment.”

The state’s prison system is offering a $3,000 signing bonus for new guards in hopes of filling the latest in a series of shortages. The prisons department this year had 2,800 vacancies in an authorized complement of 25,778 full- and part-time guards.

Those openings are driven by a turnover rate last fiscal year of nearly one in five guards, according to state records. More Texas Department of Criminal Justice employees voluntarily left the agency last year than workers in any other state department, state reports show.

In June, the shortage forced prison officials to temporarily shutter four dorms, or 320 beds, of the John B. Connally Unit in Kenedy. It was the first time the prison system closed part of a lockup since 2008, when the agency emptied 316 beds in the Dalhart unit. Prison officials shuffled around inmates until the wing reopened about 22 months later, criminal justice department spokesman Jason Clark said.

Shortages heighten the hazards in a world that already places guards in constant contact with criminals, a local union representative said. When fights break out in understaffed prisons, guards sometimes are unable to leave their posts to help, said Marty Turner, local representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Correctional Employees Council 7.

“It’s not an easy fix,” Price said. “It’s a very expensive one.”

State lawmakers approved a 3.5-percent raise for most criminal justice employees in fiscal years 2010 and 2011, Clark said. But it wasn’t enough.

Correctional officers and jailers statewide make an average annual salary of about $34,880, some $8,500 below the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Full-time, entry-level prison guards start at an annual salary of $27,800, and the amount increases another $1,700 after two months, according to the Department of Criminal Justice website.

In a fiscally conservative state, politicians aren’t likely to dole out large raises for correctional officers, said Price, now an associate professor of sociology and criminal justice at West Texas A&M University.

Staffing increased during the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, but dipped the next year, records show. That’s because the recession started about December 2008, and it’s gotten better recently, Price said.

“In a slow economy, government jobs look more attractive,” he said.

Texas Panhandle and South Plains prisons are no strangers to staffing shortages. The area units — especially the maximum security Clements unit in Amarillo — led the pack in unfilled positions five years ago. They now rank second in shortages behind the coastal region.

About five Texas Panhandle and South Plains prisons, including Dalhart, were at or less than 75 percent of full staffing in February, and most of those units housed medium-security inmates.

“Dalhart, like many other prisons, is located within a rural area,” Clark said. “This does present some challenges because of the limited pool of workers in the area.”

The department competes with other industries, too. For example, a hiring uptick in the oil and gas industries has enticed some correctional officers, Clark said.

Poor working conditions also contribute to the turnover rates, Price said.

“It’s shift work, and that’s extremely disruptive on family life,” he said. “It can be dangerous, boring and yet it can be dangerous while being boring.”

Most guards spend 12-hour shifts in poorly heated or cooled prisons, he said.

Meanwhile, overtime costs soar. The state paid about $7.5 million for 285,000 overtime hours in fiscal year 2011, records show.

“Staffing plans have been so reduced that there’s just no fat left on the bone,” Turner said. “You have one person doing two people’s jobs.”

Guards might not get vacation, and prisoners might not get their recreational hour, he said.

And guards might not complete or thoroughly search cells as part of routine checks, Turner said.

“The agency’s priority is to fill all correctional officer positions, and is actively recruiting correctional officers across the state of Texas,” Clark said. “The agency authorizes overtime when it’s necessary to provide the appropriate level of supervision.”

Lawmakers likely will face another budget deficit during the upcoming legislative session, and they’ve asked state agencies to slash another 10 percent from their budgets.

Prison officials could explore cost-effective alternatives to help retain guards. Those alternatives could include affordable training and mentorships for guards, said Ana Yanez-Correa, executive director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition.

The nonprofit research agency conducted a survey of 61 state correctional officers and found a majority of them think they are underpaid and don’t receive adequate training.

Correctional officers receive about 200 hours of curriculum and administrative training and another 104 hours of training at the unit, Clark said. Training includes defensive tactics, firearms use and nonviolent crisis intervention.

The Justice Coalition recommended more training for preventative methods, including identification and handling of vulnerable inmates and strategies to reduce assaults and de-escalate conflict.

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I would disagree by saying it's low pay. There are a lot of other jobs around here that pay way less than TDCJ does.

Correctional Officer Eligibility Criteria

If you meet the eligibility criteria and are ready for a challenge, willing to learn, and prepared to work as a team member in a structured environment, we encourage you to consider employment as a TDCJ Correctional Officer.

You must be a citizen of the U.S., or an alien authorized to work in the U.S.

You must be at least 18 years old.

You must possess a High School Diploma from an accredited senior high school or equivalent, or a state or military-issued General Education Development (GED) certificate. View information about foreign education credentials.

You must not be on active duty in the military, unless on terminal leave.
(Applicants may screen if they are within 6 months of eligibility.)

You must not have been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.

You must never have been convicted of a felony. Additional information.

You must never have been convicted of a drug-related offense. Additional information.

You must never have been convicted of an offense involving domestic violence. Additional information.

You cannot have had a Class A misdemeanor conviction within the past 10 years. Additional information.

You cannot have had a Class B misdemeanor conviction within the past 5 years. Additional information.

You cannot be on probation for any criminal offense.

You cannot have any criminal charges pending or have an outstanding warrant.

You must be able to perform the essential functions of a Correctional Officer, with or without reasonable accommodation. For a complete job description, click CO-I, CO-II, CO-III, CO-IV and CO-V.

This article should make it clear to all that Texas is involved in a deliberate effort to disenfranchise people of color.
The number of people of color in prison, and thereby having a record that is not sufficient to even apply for the jobs available far exceeds their respective numbers in our society.
The bigot will make all sorts of claims to superiority that will justify their claims while they stare facts in the face.
America is a bigoted society and is determined to reduce the people of color at any level available to them. To eliminate their access to jobs is paramount to this end.

Basically from what I can understand from logics rant is we are all racists/bigots because we are imprisoning "innocent" minorities. By us imprisoning these "innocent" people we are disenfranchising them from their normal lives.

doesn't state the point very well, but our justice system is biased against minorities. If you don't believe it, just sit in a courtroom some day and watch the causcasions be put on probation and the minorities head off to prison. Regardless, we imprison way too many people that would be better in a program of rehabilitation. The prison industry has become a business and we have to keep our prisons full. There need to be major changes in our whole system.

I agree with Dr. Price, the pay is low, and it is too darn low in my opinion for what the TDCJ-ID guards have to put up with . The law enforcement/judicial system which includes the prison system is just a thin line of protection of the citizens from these individuals. All TDCJ-ID employees should receive a substantial pay raise.

Someone said that the pay is good because of plenty of OT. Seriously, OT? They shouldn't have to work OT to be able to make a living and to provide for their family.

I worked for TDCJ for five years. The pay is better than minimum wage by far, but is non-comparable to other Correctional Officers throughout the country. These are people doing the same job, facing the same risks, and with the same (or sometimes less) training. You cannot support your family on the income. Overtime has not been an option here in Amarillo for the last few years. Most officers work two jobs to make ends meet. Many officers receive Food Stamps and CHIP for their children. Correctional Officers do a job that most of the people reading this article would be unable to do. If you haven't worked inside then you cannot comprehend what these officers deal with every single day. And then to have people who have "friends" that work for TDCJ explain how you are paid enough...

I believe that ANYONE who puts their lives on the line daily to protect the public (military, firefighters, police, and correctional officers) deserve the respect and dignity of that public. Instead these people are ridiculed and mocked by the very same public that they would give their lives to defend. Understaffing is a serious problem. The problem could be fixed by offering a competitive salary. But it won't happen. Not as long as the problem is out of sight and out of mind...

I was a CO in Alaska, working Max Sec. I put in 10 years in a system that paid well but was rife with politics.
I wasnt PC so I departed.
I kind of got used to making $22/hr, working 168 hrs /month. As a CO II I made more than your CO V does. Heck Hawaii pays even better than that. The real benefit was we worked a week on, week off, 12hr shifts. That was the only thing that made the job worthwhile.
We had a week off with our families and time to unwind from the mental stresses.
I had all kinds of jobs as we all had to work every position from gun tower to SHU. You could work your way upwards with ease. I trained the current Warden at my old prison and in 11 years he went from the floor to the Wardens office.
When we went on vacation the state would pay us and give us back vacation time if we would visit prisons in other states/countries and write a report on it. Nice way to pick up $264 AND 8 hours of leave time and only cost ya maybe a couple hours touring a prison.
It is the little things that make the job. Running a week on/off was one of the major bennies and is what keeps the turnover rate low.

I worked at the Clements Unit for 10 years. The pay is horrible for what the officers put up with. Once you get a cup full of urine and feces throw in your face you will agree.

Give me a break on the racist crap. Yes, the prisons have more black inmates. I am female. It was the black inmates that I had more problems with. They were the ones that wanted to show me their junk all the time. It wasn't the white or Hispanics. The black inmates are the ones that did all the "cat" calling to females. The reason the blacks get prison time is because they have a rap sheet a mile long. I'm not being racist, I'm stating facts.

One of the biggest problems the prisons have is the upper management are inmate friendly. The inmates have more rights then the officers. Ask any officer working there now and they will tell you the same thing.

The state of Texas has forgotten they are prisons. Why should they have cable TV? Why should they have TV at all? Remeber, YOU are paying for that cable TV.

To those that have never worked there you have no dog in this fight. On paper the pay scale might look pretty reasonable but on paper you can make it possible for an elephant to hang off of a cliff by its tail. Reality is much different.

I worked in that system for 12 years at both Clements and Neal. While the pay has gotten better since I left it is still pathetic to see the largest prison system in the country staffed by one of the lowest paid correctional officer forces in the country.

After nearly 8 years you will top out at $37000 a year. You can work there for the next 20 years + and your pay will not go up one dime. There is no shift differential, there is no holiday pay, there is no cost of living adjustment, nothing....what you see is what you get no matter where in the state you are.

I applaud and thank those that serve behind the fences because what you do everyday is important. The dangers you face EVERYDAY are real and if it weren't for you keeping them inside those fences they would be running among our streets committing the same crimes that put them there to begin with.

The next time you watch the news and you hear about some monster that committed an atrocious crime go ahead and thank the police that apprehended him and got him off the streets....then when he is sentenced to 60 YEARS in prison...thank the correctional officers for KEEPING him off the streets.

@logic & jmaverick..........While our system may not be one of Justice, I really get tired of hearing how racist it is. My father has been away for 26yrs who is caucasion for a crime that most would have only done 7-10 or probation. We will come up for parole a third time this Spring, he hasn't been in trouble in at least 16yrs inside their and the things he did get in trouble for were in no way shape or form anything major. He is an old man now and they still will not release him and let him be with his caucasion family. NOW, my best friend was raped & beaten almost to death by an African American local deputy about 3yrs ago & he currently serves 10yrs probation. This particular person also harrassed her, her kids and mother at a local park while on his probation and received another slap on the hand for it. So don't give me the bs that we are a racist society because I believe the justice system does not see color when it comes to doing a crap job to protect people. If my father does not ever see this side of the fence again, even though I have NEVER spent a day with him on this side of the fence then so be it. He did the crime, he will do the time whatever that shall be. I just know most do not do the time he has done for what he did regardless of their race.

I have never worked in this field yet I have had countless encounters with them at visit. Most of them are wonderful people just trying each and every day to make a living for their family. For what they do, for what they go through, it is not a respectable pay scale for them. I have the upmost respect for guards. While most of them have always tried their best to do for me what they can when I am at visit. My father is not feeling well right now, is down in his back and is needing some major surgery. I showed up to visit my father and it was that guards duty to walk me through the main yards of the prison and protect me while going to see my father in the infirmary. They were short handed and the Warden was only going to give me 30 minutes with my father. The guard allowed me almost an 1hr. He knew that the Warden had been sort of out of place with me & the guard saw how much my father meant to me even though he was where he is at. Without the prison system, I truly do not believe that I would be able to visit my father alive and breathing. I hope that they can figure out a way to increase of fix the pay scale for these workers. I can't imagine that it is anything less of an extreme physical and emotionally draining job.

I did my time in Gray. I saw things no person should ever have to see.

For those everywhere who complain about lax prison sentences and people getting probation, remember, we already have the largest prison population. Combine that with low guard pay, high turnover, low staffing numbers and minimal training. Now you see why there is no more room at the inn. Instead of complaining that Judges dont' give harsh enough sentences, remember that TDCJ is having to shut housing areas down for lack of sufficient security staff. Support your TDCJ officers! They do a thankless job that just might get them killed one day.

Really Ladder_49....You have never worked for TDCJ yet you feel qualified to say the pay scale is fair. Anyone can go to the TDCJ website and copy/paste the criteria like you did, but you know nothing about what it takes to be a C.O. You know nothing about what the state takes out of the paychecks so that when they are done you are left with very little. You know nothing about working in buildings with no air conditioning, or out in the yard in 107 degrees with no shade. How about during the winter time in 10 degrees with the north wind and snow blowing. You know nothing about working short of staff to where you can't take breaks or even catch a bite because there is no one to relieve you. You know nothing about putting your life on the line everytime you walk through those gates. So the next time you are sitting in your air conditioned house, watching TV, eating whenever you feel like it, stop and think about the CO's that are doing their jobs in miserable conditions for little pay and even less respect from people like you. My husband is a C.O and I am proud of the work he does. You couldn't last a day walking in his shoes or any of the C.Os for that matter.

I too worked at Clements as well as my husband at the same time. Though we were both Free- World bosses,we still had to deal with the low pay and the conditions.. I worked in the Mail room under Nancy Jowers and hubby worked in the Boxed Beef plant... I delivered mail to the Ad Seg Inmates everyday and that is not a joyful day at the park! Just like Canyon-Native stated - urine and feces being thrown on you or the fact that you are a female working in an ALL MALE MAXIMUM SECURITY Prison with the inmates "Killing" (Masterbating) at the cell door while you are trying to deliver denials and mail is not a joy. The fact that politics in the prison are horrible as well. The inmates have more rights than the workers do, They cuss you, Chunk or Kill on you ... you call them ANYTHING that hurts the inmates feelings and you could get suspended with out pay...... The smells, the fights, the shankings, the poor heating and cooling, the food...etc, etc, These officers and free world bosses do what others are AFRAID to do! The "Lifers" do not care what they do to others - yeah they get a "Case" but they are lifers - what have they got to lose? NOTHING, so they shank - to them it is no big deal...would it be a big deal to you if it were you or a family member? The pay with overtime may have very well been ok but when you can't have the overtime, it is not worth it at all....Unless you have been behind the wall and have experienced it first hand, I feel that your opinion does not matter.. IT'S EASY BEING ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN WITH YOUR ASSUMPTIONS....Try it for 5 years them come back and give your opinion.......

I don't think there is enough money to have me voluntarily show up in jail everyday. My wife is an ex CO at KSP Leavenworth. OK, I can tell you for certain, that I wouldn't be a Guard for any amount of money. I was inside the Fed at Leavenworth ONE time to work on some equipment. That was way plenty for me.

JMAv - then you should have plenty of examples to cite, so get started. Pick one day, one Court, and give us the following:
the Court you sat in, how recently, whether it was a plea or trial docket, and how many defendants were present, as well as their crimes ---- oh yes, and please add their criminal histories to the mix, as well. It's pertinent in pointing out how flawed your thinking is.
I'm going to run pick up a pizza while I wait on your reply - - so think long and hard, I'll be anxious to get home and eat, so I can read your nonsense.

181st this morning. Randall County. It was a trial docket. Want to know who went to trial, moron? Why don't you wander on down to Polk Street with your box of doughnuts, and you and 1242 can take some target practice on minorities. Is Pizza Hut giving free pizzas now to you government leaching GED morons?